Speed up a Lecture

On Friday, I had to go make up a lecture for a seminar class.  They have recorded all of them, so all I needed to do was go to the LRC to check it out and watch.  While I was bored I started playing with the buttons on the DVD player, and I found something that everyone can benefit from.  If you hold down the "Next Chapter" ( >| ) button on the DVD player for a second or so, it speeds up to 1.4 times the normal speed!  The change was little enough that I hardly noticed the change in the speaker's voice, (he was actually more interesting because he'd picked up the pace a little) but my hour long lecture was done in 40 minutes.  Could life get any sweeter?

Become the Next Board Game Master of Provo

We recently found a nice little secret just off campus. There is a game shop near BYU campus that offers some nice rewards for coming and competing in some of their competitions. Sanctuary Games, which is located between Sam's Club and K-Mart, holds multiple competitions a month and offers prizes up to $20 gift certificates.

They have table-top game competitions, model painting competitions, and card game competitions. They also have a on-going competition where Dave and Josh (the owners) will compete against you and one of your friends playing Dawn of War on the networked computers that they have there. If you beat them, you will win 100 hours of free computer time.

They also boast that they have the largest playing area of any other game store in the valley.

Nuclear waste on campus

The BYU physics department had a nuclear reactor used for research.  It supposedly wasn't large, just enough to power a light bulb.  They took the waste from the reactor and stored it in a shed on the south side of campus.

Is this dangerous?

There isn't much waste.  It is all stored in a single 50 gallon barrel.  It has been rumored that there is so little waste that if someone were to go down by the shed with a Geiger counter, no trace of the radiation would be detected.  So no worries, it won't hurt you.  Just another BYU secret.

Best Map of BYU Campus

There are a lot of Campus Maps out there, and some are better than others. We found that the BYU web team has put a lot of work into map.byu.edu and we wanted to congratulate a job well done.  It's an interactive google map with pictures and everything.  Go check it out!

Tunnels under BYU Campus

We've all heard the rumors about mysterious caverns hidden around campus.  Are they there for protection in case of a nuclear holocaust?  Perhaps they are designed to allow campus personnel to travel great distances with little hassle?  Or maybe they have some other, more sinister purpose.  This seemed exactly the type of thing Y Secrets should be reporting on.

We found some good news and some bad news.  The good news is there really are tunnels.  The bad news is they are used mainly for pipes, wires, and other basic utilities- and students are not allowed down.

Si Min investigated the matter further, and this is what he found:

"First, BYU relies on steam and hot water for its entire heating system. Well over 100 buildings are heated from one central building (the Phys Plant) whose smoke stack is noticeable from quite a distance. These pipes run through tunnels which run under the sidewalks on campus. This explains why BYU is the only place in Utah County which has very few cracks in the sidewalks. The heat from the pipes keeps the sidewalks from freezing in the winter. This in turn attracts the skateboarders and rollerbladers who are forbidden from campus.

The real problem with getting down and exploring these tunnels is that they are still in use today and the campus police are serious about keeping people out. Rumours still persists of people who have figured out how to get down there, but no one knows anybody personally."

So it would seem that our mystery is solved, but is this information too convenient to be the truth?  We will leave that for our readers to decide.

Find a good place to Eat Out

If you are like me, then you have a few places where you always go out to eat.  Do you want to break out of the routine?  Yelp.com can help.   Yelp is a location-based social review site.  Thousands of people with profiles have written reviews for tons of locations.  Results can be filtered by price, rating, category, or distance.  For example, a search for restaurants near Provo, UT returned 292 possibilities.

If you consider yourself a connoisseur of the local scene,  just make a profile and you will have an instant fan-base.  Yelp makes your reviews instant and accessible.

The other great thing about Yelp is its mobility.  The site is simple enough that it will work on most mobile browsers, and they have a great app for the iPhone.

So give yourself a break, and yelp for something new.

Cheap Eats on BYU Campus - Look to the Vending Machines

Reader Gianna gave us a tip in regards to going on the cheap when it comes to eating on BYU campus.

"For a quick and cheap lunch, the McKay building vending machines sell Cup of Soup/Instant Lunch for 80 cents. They charge $2.00 for the same thing in the JFSB!"

Grab a cup and enjoy a cheap lunch. The prices of nearly all foods on BYU campus have increased the past year. It's nice to see that the vending machines are remaining fairly consistent.

Music to Your Ears - Test Taking Tips

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It's midterm time at BYU. Most classes will send you to the dreaded dungeon known as the testing center to take your tests. Give yourself a break and try out the music room in the testing center. It's generally not as crowded and is above the regular testing area. Solve complex math problems, figure out the English language, and be a bubble filling master while listening to Mozart.  Studies have shown that listening to classical music aids focus and concentration. It also muffles the sound generated from those really annoying people that sniffle, scratch, or do other crazy things in the testing center.

How do you get there?  Just walk out the door after you get your test, turn left, go to the end of the room, and go up the stairs. Anyone working there can help you find this little gem.

Get Free stuff for Voting!

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In case you haven't been paying attention, tomorrow is election day. And you all know what that means:  Free stuff from businesses jumping on the patriotic bandwagon.  What sort of free stuff you ask?  Here's some of what we've found:

• Krispy Kremes will give a free star shaped donut with sprinkles (as shown to the left) to any one displaying a "I Voted" Sticker.
• Ben and Jerry's will give a free scoop to anyone, regardless of whether you voted or not. (But the nearest location is in SLC)

I'm sure there are a bunch more, but these are the most advertised.  If you know of some more good ones, let us all know in the comments section.

What to do in Provo During Fall

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Did you know there are at least 14 corn mazes/Haunted houses in the Valley?  There are also 16 public Festivals and over 30 concerts.

Sound Good to You?  You can find out the details at the What To Do In Provo Public Wiki. This site is awesome:  It is hosted by the Provo City Library, anyone can add activities, and it even includes a public google calendar for events.  It is separated by time of year, so you can easily find some fun things for whenever you'll have free time.

Convert Those Old Tapes to DVD for FREE!

Everyone's got them, but no one knows what to do with those old camcorder tapes and 80's cartoons. Why not convert them over to a digital format to enjoy for many years. The information/media lab in the HBLL (BYU library) on the 3rd floor provides this free service for students with some time on their hands and a stack of blank DVDs. You can even edit, remaster, those old treasured memories. The computers, equipment, and software are all free of charge for BYU full-time students and faculty. Appointments are necessary and can be found online via the HBLL website.

What's Lurking in the Basement of the BYU Library?

We received a tip about the secrets lurking around in the special collections in the BYU library on BYU Campus.

"On the first floor of the library is the special collections room. I'm not sure what is in this room that needs to be so heavily protected, but let me explain what happens when you go there.
You get to the room and you ask for a book. You pretty much have to know everything there is to know about the book you want. So you tell them the information

Then you fill out paper work ... Paper work, for a book.

Then you give them your ID card.

Then have to go put your stuff in a locker. You aren't allowed to bring phone's, water bottles, or pens into the room.

Then you go back to the desk where you asked for your book, and you wait for them to get your book and press the button so you can enter the secret CIA vault.

Then they slide a window open, set your book down, and you can come and get it.

When you read, there must be absolute silence. Some of the books have to be set on foam pads to protect them.

And then when you return you book you set it at the window and wait for them to unlock the door from behind the desk again.

And in addition, you are not allowed to check out a single item from the special collections... even if its just a 200 page leisure book."

Has anyone found anything *special* down there that's worthy of the CIA-like treatment given to everyone?

Underground Aquariums

As part of BYU's College of Life Sciences, there are 15 live aquariums in the basement of the Widtsoe building.  They are built into the walls, and anyone who would like can wander down there and peek around.  Some of the aquariums are empty, (or the fish are very good at hiding) but with 15 tanks there are still quite a few interesting things to look at.  If you finding that you sit by the same certain someone every class period, but aren't sure how to expand your relationship, this is the sort of place that is easy to invite them to go and check out with you.  It's close by, unitimidating, too public for NCMO, but private enough to have a good conversation.  Plus there's all sorts of crazy fish.

Fireside with Elder Richard G. Scott

Sunday, October 19th 2008 Elder Richard G. Scott will be coming to BYU. This perhaps is the biggest secret yet to be released by Y Secrets. The fireside will be held at BYU's Tanner Building room 151. Doors will open at 5:00 pm and everyone should be in their seats by 5:30 pm. Those who plan to attend should dress in their Sunday best.

Here's the only requirement to attend the fireside: YOU MUST SPEAK PORTUGUESE. Elder Scott will be holding this fireside for Brazilians here at BYU and those who speak Portuguese. If you fall under any of these categories feel free to attend.

Cheapest Dry Cleaning in Utah Valley

Since there is a high density of LDS people going to Utah Valley, getting that suit pressed and cleaned is up on the priority list due to how often LDS members wear suits. Since college students (and nearly everyone living in Utah Valley) is cheap, getting dry cleaning done doesn't happen very often (but should).

To save some dough, head on over to BYU Laundry services and save some money. Drop off your suit, shirts, or other articles of clothing, and get them done on the cheap.

Dry cleaning services are available at the BYU Laundry (AXLB). For questions about dry cleaning, call the BYU Laundry at 422-6034. They are located near the old deseret towers and across the street from the Student Health Center.

Best. Facebook Group. EVER. (Relating to BYU)

The group is: Awkward Engagement Pictures Rock My Socks

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I stumbled upon this gem a little while ago, and have now spent many hours browsing the pictures posted there.  You also need to to read the comments people leave.

Very funny, very BYU.

Getting in to See the BYU Swim Team

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Beating the summer heat or breaking out of a cold winter day is easy when you can take a dive in one of BYU swimming pools. The BYM swim team practices often and has meets regularly during season. How can you get in on the swimming action and cheer on our fearless swimmers?

Reader John writes in and mentions the following on how to get in and see these athletes:

"Many people come to me, as a former four-year member of the BYU swimming team, and still ask how much it costs to get into a BYU swim/dive meet. Or they even ask if they need to get to bring their "All Sports Pass" to get it. Here's a secret.. It's completely free. Yeah, a sporting event that doesn't require a dumb pass or a ticket. And this is the real stuff as the men and women are normally ranked in the top 30 teams in the nation. So, there's always something watch. Plus, who doesn't like watching people in swim suits? Yeah... I thought so."

So round up your friends and support the swim team!

Deli Hot Dogs

The new deli in the Tanner addition is a little expensive and thats no secret, but there is at least one thing that a cheap and worth it.  Hot Dogs!  The hot dogs in the deli are about $1.70 and are big.  They'll fill you up and are really tasty.  The dogs are only available after 11 am, but who wants to eat a hot dog for breakfast anyway?

Affordable Sushi

Looking for cheap Sushi in Provo?  We got a tip from Yamada Tarō that DeMae's on Center Street has half price sushi on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  We've looked into it and give it our full recommendation.  They have some tasty authentic sushi as well as an assortment of dishes for less courageous eaters.  If you haven't tried sushi yet it's a great place to test your pallet, and if you are still unsure you can take a peek at their menu online.  A side benefit to the discount is that the restaurant is very quiet on regular price days, so it's a great place for an intimate conversation if you aren't worried about the price.

Save Money By Not Talking to Anyone

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It's no secret that the brand spanking new deli/restaurant is open for business in the Tanner building. You can get anything from sandwiches to cold beverages, but is it the best value for your money?

Reader Jonas noticed a slight price difference between the vending machines and the new deli restaurant.

"You can save money by going to a vending machine instead of purchasing a drink at the deli. For example, a chocolate milk at the deli costs 1.69+tax while the same exact chocolate milk costs 1.40 at the vending machines right down the hall."

So it looks like you spend more to wait in line?

Vending machines-1, Deli-0

Where can I park?

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Parking is a never ending problem on campus. The secrets of finding the best places to park need to be revealed. Recently reader "Jenny" noticed that students don't realize that a new Y lot is available this semester that was previously a G (graduate) lot. She says, "the parking next to the RB is scarce at best after 8:00 AM, but strangely, the parking across the street from Wendy's always has parking available. It's even a shorter distance to walk to the Tanner building than most RB parking."  Thanks Jenny for that tip. I've included a map for those that may not know of the change. Yah for more parking!

How to Appeal a BYU Parking Ticket

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The BYU Parking office has a policy of dropping one parking ticket per Academic School Year, supposedly with no Questions asked.  Your appeal just needs to be within 14 days of the date of ticket issue.

The easiest way to appeal your citation is to go to the Secret BYU Citation Lookup and fill out the form.

We warn however, that sometimes talking politely to an actual person is the best way to work your way through these things.

You can visit the Parking Services office at 2120 JKB, or call (801) 422-3906.

Best Drinking Fountains on Campus

We all realize that not all drinking fountains are created equal.  For some reason, certain spouts are fantastic, while others taste like bad breath in a copper can.

I'd like to list some of the oasises (oases?) that I've found, and please let us know the ones that you have found.

• The fountain on the 1st floor TNRB in the vending machine room is best in the building.


• In the library, on the third floor as you go towards "Interlibrary Loan," there is a drinking fountain that almost always tastes good.

I'm sure there are a lot more, but those are the ones that stand out in my mind.  Where is your favorite drinking fountain?

The Best of Divine Comedy

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If you have been at BYU for a while you probably know about Divine Comedy.  They are a comedy troupe that performs about 4 times a semester.  They've had on and off years and who knows how they will be this year.  I would recommend going to see their new stuff.  If you don't feel like spending ten bucks for a date you can always watch some of their best stuff on their website DivineComedy.net.

My favorites are the Lord of the Engagement Ring, Crowdwalker, and zoobing.  Thers are in the pre-2007 category and they are hilarious.  Look at the MormonAdz as well.  They mock what is sacred to BYU.

Best Burger Deal on Campus

One of the best things I like about BYU creamery is their ability to make a decent meal at a good price. Although some student's argue that Wendy's, Subway, and Burger King is cheaper, the Creamery seems to make real food that doesn't leave you feeling like you had a "processed" meal.

For this post, I'm singling out my favorite secret at the creamery. The kids meal there comes with a cheeseburger (or hotdog, hamburger, or grilled cheese), fries, drink, and a child's size ice cream. Best of all, it's only 3.29. I don't think any of the chains can beat this deal.

Traffic after BYU Football

Have you ever tried to get to North Provo/Orem area after a BYU Football game? Maybe your family is in town and you have all planned to meet up at Tucano's. You're running late because you stayed at the stadium talking to some friends and your family is there already because they didn't go to the game. What should you do?

Here's a pointer... If you're on 900 E, get onto N Temple Dr. Head East on N Temple Drive and take a left onto Iroqouis Dr (1200 E). Go all the way down on Iroqouis Dr, it'll curve to the right and up a hill. Next, take a left onto Navajo Dr. This street will take a sharp right up the hill. You'll be able to see Foothill Dr. Get onto it for a while. You'll go down a huge hill, past a stake center and through a couple of lights. This street becomes Orem Center St which is directly south of the Riverwoods Mall where Tucano's is located!!!

There is absolutely no traffic via this way after a football game! Enjoy!

Ice Blocking at Rock Canyon

Whoever thought about going to the store, buying a chunk of ice, finding a huge hill, sitting on the ice chunk, and flying down the hill at unsafe speeds was really on to something!  Its a good workout and a lot of fun!  One of the hardest parts about ice blocking is finding a hill that will threaten your life.  No worries, I've done the hard work  for you.

Rock Canyon park has a ton of huge hills that are a pretty good length so that the ride isn't over before it starts.  The hill on the south side is probably the longest, but doesn't have a very good landing.  The east hill is nice too, but once again has a black top path at the very bottom.  The path obstacle can be a lot of fun for the advanced rider, but if your a beginner or one a date, the far west hill (not the one that slopes into the main bowl, but the one that faces the road) is the best.  It isn't as long as the other hills, but its still a nice ride.

A word to the wise, bring a towel for each ice block that you have.  Sitting on a towel will keep your butt warm and relatively dry.

Ice blocking games:

• The traditional race down the hill


• Who can go the farthest


• Sitting on the lap of the rider (this one can be dangerous)


• Who can spin the most


• Who can run up the hill the fastest

Have a lot of fun and be safe!  Remember, if you fall off the block, cover your head because the ice block will probably be following you down the hill!

Get a Room!

If you have a group project and need to meet up on campus, it can be hard to find a good room for study. Wouldn't it be great to see what classrooms were occupied at any given time? A little known secret is that such a website exists, but is not well publicized. Head on over to the Campus Scheduling website and select your building, room, and desired size. You will get a list of rooms and classes so you know when a classroom is empty and can be used.

When I spoke with Campus Scheduling, they warned that students were not allowed to use a room unless they have been endorsed by an Instructor and properly scheduled. Use at your own risk!

Rock Canyon Park

If you've ever experienced the awkward "touch barrier" phase at the start of the relationship, this one's for you. Despite what you may think ladies, the guys are always more than willing to move past this phase. If they haven't yet, perhaps the opportunity just hasn't come up. And guys... If you don't know how make your lady friend feel comfortable around you and take a risk, it's time you learned.

Here's one tip that has worked wonders for me and for others that have taken my advice. But do it quickly before it gets too cold here in Happy Valley. Just take N Temple Drive and go a little East of the temple and take a left turn onto 1200 East. There you'll find Rock Canyon Park a perfect little place for a picnic. Yes, a picnic. Now don't disregard this before you hear the whole thing. Trust me, you'll be glad you tunned in.

Here's what you need. Get yourself a nice blanket. This is essential. You want something that will be comfortable and big enough, because remember you still haven't broken through the "touch barrier" phase. I personally have tried bringing different ingredients to this sort of date. A variation is always good. Last time I went I took sandwiches, strawberries and chocolate, bottled water, and starbursts. I'll get to the starbursts in a bit. Be sure you go towards the end of the afternoon so you get to see the sunset. Remember, we are trying to set a romantic atmosphere here. Enjoy your food. Talk about different things. Don't force natural processes to happen, just yet.

Once your date has enjoyed the food, bring up casually that you'd like to play a game. An yes, we will use the starbursts now. The game consists on a variation of truth or dare. You get to ask your date any question. They can choose to either respond to the question or have you feed them a starburst. Be sure to unwrap the starburst and feed directly into your date's mouth. And BINGO, you're there. The touch barrier has been broken. You're probably thinking to yourself, "How could this ever work?" Well, the romantic atmosphere is there and if the conversation went well, you're pretty much guaranteed this will work. But have a little self-awareness. If you're date isn't having a good time, don't bring up the starbursts!!!

Mona Rope Swing

The Mona rope swing is pretty sweet on nice Saturday afternoon.  Get a bunch of friends and head south on I-15 until you hit Mona.  It'll be pretty easy to find.  Climbing up into the tree may be a little scary at first, but its worth it to get some sweet air!  The picture is evidence of that!!

The water isn't the world's cleanest, but its ok its worth it.  I really thought it was worth the trip!

Whether your grand master acrobat or someone whose never been 3 inches off the ground (first off start working on your vertical) the Mona rope swing is for you.  The more you go the better you'll get at high flyin' so but on your swim suit and hit rope!

Free Food

Free food is what every college student looks for.  Companies love to get their name out and one of the most effective way of doing that is to give free stuff, especially food.  There are many places on campus during many times of the school year that will have free food, but it seems that the most likely time and place to get it is the Tanner and Wilkenson Center during the start of the Fall semester.

Many companies will have information sessions to draw in potentional employees and there is almost always food.  For the most part, anyone is invited to go to the sessions.  The sessions are usually entertaining and very informative so go for the food and stay for the information (also the food is usually at the end).

BYU Grounds Team

Have you ever wondered why there are so many students working for BYU Grounds?  Does it really take that many people to rake leaves or shovel snow?  The answer is no; however, BYU Grounds does more than just edge the grass and mow the lawns.  They are part of a bigger scheme to manipulate the lives of BYU students.  In a subtle, yet profound way we are all influenced while walking on campus, driven towards a common goal.  What is this goal?  It isn't graduating from BYU.  It isn't even to watch the football team stomp some Pac 10 school.  It is to lead all of us to the altar of matrimony. 

This may sound absurd to some, but the truth is that the BYU Grounds crew employs so many students to beautify the campus for the purpose of creating a perfect setting for wedding photos.  Just look at the rocky water feature in front of the bell tower, the duck pond, and the statue of Chief Massasoit.  These awe inspiring vistas resonate to the very core of single BYU students, strongly whispering, "now you have a friend in the diamond business."  So next time you're gazing into the eyes of Brigham Young's Statue, remember BYU grounds works for your eternal salvation.

Hot Air for a Cool Night

Many freshmen who live on-campus (as well as many students in 3-is-a-crowd roommate situations) find themselves in need of a warm place to go at night --for various reasons-- especially as the weather cools off.  There are, I am sure, many places that could work for these desired late-night activities, but when I was a freshman I found the random campus vents to serve particularly well.

There are a number of these vents littered across campus, they apparently have something to do with the heating system.  The good news is that they spew out warm air all night long, and most any decent sized building has one or more.  Some of these vents are well enough hidden from public view for a "late-night philosophical discussion," or however you like to spend time alone with the opposite sex.  The bad news is occasionally they carry distinctive smells from the heating system, or whatever has fallen into them.

This may be a good time to remind the reader that we here at Y Secrets encourage all students to follow the Honor Code.  (but anything less than that is fair game)

Time To Start "Snickering"

Ever feel like a snickers ice cream bar? That smooth ice cream coupled with caramel and wrapped up in a chocolate coat. You know it sounds good.

On BYU campus, you have many choices to purchase this little wonder of joy. I've found that the prices for these items are consistently higher at the Twilight Zone or BYU Creamery. Looking to save .40 to .50 per item? Check out the vending machines. I'm not sure why there is a big discrepancy, but enjoy the cheaper ice cream bars while they last!

100 Hour Board

BYU NewsNet puts on this little gem known as the 100 Hour Board.  Basically the idea is you can post any question at all (within the BYU spectrum of Social Decency), and within 100 hours you'll get some sort of answer.  Its a great source for ideas and randomness in general, so if you haven't checked it out yet, pop out your lappy during your next GE class and have a look.

Brownies

The brownies at Sugar N' Spice and the Twilight Zone are delicious!  They come with mint or without and with nuts and without.  Yummy!

The brownies are a little more expensive (.65) than Grandma's cookies out of the vending machines, but I personally think it is well worth it!

Searching For A Caffeine Fix

Finding caffeine on campus can be a difficult endeavor. Past rumors of Brazilian drinks at the Twilight Zone haven't led to much. The Cougar Eat, Creamery, and all vending machines are dry of the good stuff. Or are they? Is there a place on campus to get some caffeine?

If you're a privileged employee or visitor to the Movie Studios near the Office of Information Technology (OIT), oddly enough most of their vending machines have caffeinated beverages. Sure, it may be easier to make a quick trip to Subway or Wendy's off campus, but technically, BYU has caffeinated beverages at the movie studios.